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Leigh Wood wants to keep Josh Warrington back in Nottingham

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Image: Leigh Wood Aims to Stop Josh Warrington Again in Nottingham

Their first fight in October 2023 changed the moment Wood found his range. Warrington set the pace early on with busy hands and pressure, then switched to the right hand in the seventh set and never recovered. Wood timed him with a strenuous right hand above his head that checked whether he was clear. When Warrington’s legs went feeble, Wood came through, kept him in front of him and fired low, correct shots until the referee had seen enough.

Now they’re playing it again at the Motorpoint Arena, sold out and noisy. Wood understands what Warrington brings. Work pace. Conditioning.

“He’s gotten into incredible shape,” Wood said on the Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel. “It’s got a great engine and packs a lot of punches. But that gives someone like me a lot of potential.”

Wood holes appear on stock exchanges. Warrington tries to break inside but often gets straight through. When his feet are parallel and his head remains on the center line, time should be measured. Then Wood sets up his base, presses his right hand trigger up and catches him before he can roll out or tie up.

“He says he won every round, but he didn’t,” Wood said. “He contradicts himself. Did he win every round? Did he even watch it? I couldn’t believe my audacity when I beat him.”

Wood doesn’t have to win every minute. Needs tidy counters.

“Style makes the fight. Whether I lose two or three rounds doesn’t matter because I always have a powerful punch in my locker. It will be tough for me to do a better job this time, but I would like it to be more convincing and I would like to do it even faster.”

“He can say whatever he wants because on fight night I still bully him.”

Warrington knows what went wrong.

“Game plan? Don’t get caught! I like watching my fights if I win, but I don’t like watching them when I get punched in the chin. Last time I jumped into the fight with Leigh and it cost me.”

“I just have to focus on what I do well and stay switched on every second. I feel stronger than ever.”

If Warrington starts with a jab, keeps his head off the halfway line and works to his body without stifling his own shots, he could drag Wood into the deep end.

Start times, location, date and live broadcast information

Date: February 21
Start time: 18:00 local time / 13:00 ET / 18:00 UK
Live broadcast: DAZN
Venue: Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham

Battle card:
Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington, 12 rounds, super featherweight
Ishmael Davis vs Bilal Fawaz, 12 rounds, British super welterweight title
Dave Allen vs. Karim Berredjem, 6 rounds, heavyweight
Sandy Ryan vs. Karla Ramos Zamora, 10 rounds, WBC super lightweight title
Leo Atang vs Dan Garber, 6 rounds, heavyweight

How to watch: Available live worldwide on DAZN.

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Boxing

Jermell Charlo says Derrick James has changed with fame

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Image: Jermell Charlo says Derrick James changed as success grew

“Derrick James, he started getting a little more players and a little more buzz, and I feel like our communication has changed,” Charlo told Brian Custer.

Charlo said that as James built a larger stable, there was less hands-on time spent with him and more trying to control the gym environment. He claimed that James wanted things done his way, including telling players to remove dogs from the gym during training sessions and changing the atmosphere that helped build their success.

Charlo has been out of the ring since his loss to Saul Alvarez in 2023, and James recently split from Errol Spence Jr. A coach once considered one of the safest hands in the sport is suddenly facing public criticism from two of his biggest names.

“He wanted it his way,” Charlo said. “Coach needs us. Don’t overdo it, coach. Serene down, coach. I was your first champion.”

He also pointed to his camp leading up to the Alvarez fight, saying the support around him wasn’t the same when he needed it most.

“You don’t enter into a world title fight like that,” Charlo said.

Charlo still believes he can regain his spot in the junior middleweight division, and talks about a possible fight with Sebastian Fundora are ongoing later this year. His confidence hasn’t changed, but his patience with ancient alliances has noticeably changed. Sometimes a rift begins when success changes the room.

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Prince Naseem Hamed predicts Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight: ‘It’s going to sound crazy’

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Prince Naseem Hamed predicts Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: “This is going to sound mad”

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua look set to face each other later this year in what could be one of the biggest British boxing events of all time.

Another British legend, Naseem Hamed, presented the course of the fight in a surprising way.

Fury had his ring returned within a a decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this monthshaking off ring rust at the age of 37 and allegedly preparing for a showdown with Joshua that the “Gypsy King” was set to take place this summer.

However, ‘AJ’ instead maintained that he would prefer a warm-up fight first, with the Londoner expected to return to action in July, ahead of a long-awaited meeting with his arch-rival in November.

I’m talking to talkSPORT BoxingHamed was looking forward to this match and suggested that a draw could be on the cards.

“Who do I think will win the fight between AJ and Fury? Well, that is the question and everyone wants to know.

“Years ago, Tyson had this awkward style for me where he could make AJ look stupid, that’s true. Now everything has changed. Tyson seemed to have backed off a little bit.

“But with Tyson Fury you never know, maybe one night he’ll show up and box amazingly and do what he did to Wilder. Those first few rounds [against Makhmudov]I was a little disappointed that he didn’t go from the start.

“This is going to sound crazy to you, but would it be unbelievable if I said it could be a draw?”

It is unclear whether Fury will also fight in the summer or whether he will avoid risking a lucrative romance with Joshua and wait patiently on the sidelines.

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Boxing

Adam Smith reveals Ben Whittaker’s summer fight plan

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Image: Adam Smith reveals Ben Whittaker summer fight plan

Ben Whittaker’s next few months are already taking shape following his quick knockout victory in Liverpool, and Adam Smith outlines a busy summer schedule that should finally see the delicate heavyweight fighter face stronger tests

Smith said Whittaker is expected to return to the United States in overdue June on the Jaron “Boots” Ennis card, then return to the UK in the summer for a major date in his hometown of Birmingham.


Whittaker stopped Brian Suarez in two rounds last weekend and performed brilliantly throughout, adding another early finish to the stretch that helped rebuild attention around him after his first fight with Liam Cameron ended in a draw.

Smith said the June outing would support expose Whittaker to a wider audience ahead of a bigger national night later in the year.

“He will fight at the end of June in America at the Boots Ennis gala. That’s good. Show him to a global audience. Then he will come back here in overdue summer, maybe early September and fight in Birmingham in a huge fight,” Adam Smith said in an interview with Sport Boxing.

Smith also named British opponents who could be next, naming Lyndon Arthur, Brad Rea and Craig Richards as possible options once Whittaker returns home.

Smith believes that in the long term, bigger domestic fights with Joshua Buatsi and Anthony Yard should come within the next year if Whittaker continues to win.

“Buatsis and Yards need to be delivered within the next 6-12 months.”

Whittaker has had a lot of notoriety since turning pro, but the activity and matchmaking are looking more grave now. The next two fights should tell more than the first ten.

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Last updated: 24/04/2026 at 17:38

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